Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 2
1 JOHN 3.2.
Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be: but we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him; for we ſhall ſee him as he is.
IN the former verſe the Apoſtle exhorts Chriſtians to a ſerious conſideration of the love of God which he hath ſhewed them, in calling them his children.
Againſt which dignity, he anſwers an objection.
The Objection is taken from the miſpriſing of the world, The world knows no ſuch excellency in them. To this he anſwers; that this ignorance of theirs ariſeth from the ignorance of Chriſt.
In this verſe he anſwers a ſecond Objection, from the doubts that themſelves have of their eſtates, by reaſon of thoſe ſundry temptations and afflictions they meet withal in the world.
To this he anſwers: Even now they are the Sons of God.
2, Though now their eſtate be hid, yet it ſhall appear.
3. He confirmes this, that they ſhall appear when Chriſt appears. And that he confirmes from their own knowledge, For they ſhall ſee him as he is.
1. Conſider we their eſtates, Sons of God.
2. The hiddenneſſe of their preſent and future eſtates.
3. What they ſhall be like, viz. Chriſt, which is ſet out by the teſtimony of their own knowledge; and he inſinuates all by a ſweet compellation, Beloved.
Doct. That the Sons ef God ought to be the men of our love and delight, 3 Epiſt. Joh. 1.2, 5. 1 Pet. 2.11. Phil. 4.1.
Where we ſee his deep affection towards them, he looks at them as born of God, and therefore he ſtiles them Beloved, and Dearly beloved.
In thoſe things we love, there is firſt an affection of deſire to be united to them: Secondly, a communication of good unto them.
For the firſt. Pfal. 119.63. & 79, If he be to chooſe company, he will make choyce of ſuch as fear God. And this is called, amor concupiſcentiae.
Secondly, there is a love with deſires to communicate good to the thing beloved. And this is Amor amicitiae, Pſal. 60.1. 2 Pet. 1.7. Do good to all, but ſpecially to the houſhold of faith. Such as are born of God. So that whether we deſire union or communion of good company to any, we ſhould chiefly deſire it to the company of beleevers. This was Davids grief, that he could not enjoy the company of good men, Pſal. 120.
Reaſ. 1. For Gods ſingular love to them, verſe 1. What manner of love. And if God love them ſo dearly, we ought alſo to love them.
1. From their love above all others back again to God: when others ſit looſe in their affections, Chriſtians ſhould love them that love God, who hath loved them ſo dearly, Pſal. 139.21, 22.
3. From the truth that is in every Chriſtian beleever, 2 John 1.2. If a man loves Gold, he loves to have true Gold, ſo if we love any, let us love them in whom is truth; of other men, not one of a thouſand that hath truth in them, you ſhall finde them no further loving then may be to their own ends; in latter times men ſhall be lovers of themſelves; for in former times God did inlarge the worlds affections, many brethren would have hazarded their lives for their friends; but now no further love then they ſhall finde aliquid jucundum, or utile. But Chriſtians love one another for the loves ſake that is in them. Many complain much that true friendſhiip is gone, it's an hard thing to find a faithfull friend, Prov. 20.6. This faithfullneſſe in friendſhip is a proper badge of the Son of God, John 13.35. & 15.19.
Ʋſe 1. This ſhould teach Miniſters with what affection they ſhould ſpeak to their people, when they call them Beloved. This ought not to be a word of complement, but their hearts ſhould go with it. How can ſuch call them Dearly beloved, when they come at them but once a year? how doe they love union with them, or communication of good to them?
2. This may be a direction to us all, as we would approve the truth of our hearts before God, to love all that are born of God, as St. John he calls them Beloved. Look at all beleevers as the Sons of God, and look at them as beloved, if they walk in the truth.
3. This may be a reproof of all ſuch as eſtrange themſelves from Chriſtians; yea, many there be that are glad of any advantage to trouble them that are born of God, they are far from St. John's ſpirit. There are ſome that will not maligne and oppoſe them; but yet if they be ſuch as are poor, from whom they can get neither pleaſure nor profit, they eſtrange themſelves from them. But St. John calls any Beloved, in whom he findes the truth of grace. There is no Chriſtian but hath ſomething for which he ought to be beloved, there is ſomething in them worthy our imitation. You ſhall finde more comfort in your love to poor weak Chriſtians, then if you faſten your love upon more eminent perſons, and greater in place.
Doct. 2. That the ignorance that the world hath of Gods children, and our obſcurity and weakneſſe in the world, doth not hinder our preſent good eſtate in the world.
Now we are the Sons of God, now that we are afflicted in the world, Iſa. 54.11. which ſhews you, that though the children of God be afflicted and weather-beaten, yet God hath promiſed ſuch bleſſings to them as may make them bleſſed in the world, verſ. 13.14. Iſa. 43.3, 4. Though we be led through the water and fire of affliction, yet in the midſt of all our troubles; when we are paſſing through, the Lord promiſeth that he will be with us, and that he will be our comfort in the midſt of perſecution and temptation.
Thus you ſee how dear and precious Gods children are in his ſight. David when he ſaw the proſperity of the wicked, that all went well with them, then he began to think that he had cleanſed his herat in vain; but ſoon afrer, when he went into the Sanctuary of the Lord, then he ſaw that the Lord ſet them but in ſlippery places. Therefore howſoever it ſeem in our eyes, that it goes well with the wicked, yet let us not deſpair, God will guide his children by his counſell, and afterward receive them to glory. You may hear Job complaining of his poor and miſerable eſtate, Job 19.18, 19, 20. he had now no more comfort left him then he had skin on his teeth, and therefore he cryes to his friends to pitty him, verſ. 21, 22. And what do you think was the rejoycing of his ſoul in the midſt of the anguiſh of his ſpirit, and affliction of body, being all conſumed away with miſery? he tells you, verſ. 25. to v. 27. Yet, I am ſure my redeemer liveth. So that what though his preſent eſtate be miſerable, and his future happy eſtate be obſcure to the world, yet he knows when Chriſt ſhall appear, he ſhall be like him, Col. 3.3, 4. as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Our life is hid with Chriſt in God.
Reaſ. 1. Taken from our likeneſſe to the Son of God, Chriſt Jeſus, who was in ſuch a poor condition, as that though the birds of the air had neſts, yet the Son of man had not where to lay his head, yet all this while he was the Son of God, in whom alone he was well pleaſed, Mat. 3.17. And as it was with Chriſt our head, ſo may we look it ſhould be with us his members, Rom. 8.29. If God did ſee it meet that his Son ſhould be thus afflicted in the world, and drinke of ſuch a bitter portion of Gods wrath; let us not think we ſhall go to heaven, and partake of thoſe heavenly manſions which Chriſt hath prepared for us, but we alſo ſhall drink of the ſame cup that he drank of, Let us account our ſelves happy, that God will ſo eſteem of us to make us his Sons.
Reaſ. 2. From the freedome of Gods love to men.
And firſt, that he doth not eſteem of them according to their outward luſtre, 1 Sam. 16.7. God ſeeth not as man ſeeth Pſ. 22.6. This is meant of Chriſt. So Iſa. 53.3. Secondly, That he doth not eſteem of them according to their inward eſtate, Ezek. 16.16. Deut. 7.8, 8. So that though there be much pride and ſtubbornnes of heart found in Gods children, and oftentimes in a great meaſure againſt God, yet all theſe inward corruptions do not hinder our future glorious eſtate.
Ʋſe. 1. This ſhould teach the children of God to be content with their eſtates. They are indeed apt to think, that if the world do not eſteem of them, but are ready to put many injuries upon them, and to perſecute them with hatred, that they are not Gods children; or elſe they murmur and grieve within themſelves. And if the world do ſometimes eſteem of them, yet if their health, liberty, and maintenance be taken away, then they think ſurely they have cleanſed their hearts in vain, and waſhed their hands in innocency, Pſal. 73.13. As for the men of the world, they are in proſperity, they ſuck water out of a full cup, their eyes ſtart out with fatneſſe, and they have more then they can wiſh. But David can tell them, when he went into the Sanctuary, that he ſaw that God had ſet them in ſlippery places. And then verſ. 22. he condems himſelfe for his ignorance.
2. This ſhould teach the children of God not to misjudge of themſelves, in regard of their inward eſtates; for ſome of them will be ready to doubt, and ſay, Surely I am not a child of God, becauſe I find much of pride in my heart, and much rebellion and corruption in my ſpirit. Surely, if I were born of Chriſt; I ſhould be like him. But what ſaith St. John here? we are the Sons of God, even now, though there be much unbelief in our hearts, and much weakneſſe, and many corruptions in us.
But how ſhall I know that I am the childe of God? The anſwer is laid down in v. 3. Every man that hath this hope in himſelf, purifieth himſelf as he is pure. So that though he ſeeth much filthineſſe in his ſpirit for the preſent, yet he labours to purge himſelf from time to time, and is aſhamed of his hardneſs of heart, and unbelief, that he hath ſo long ſtood out with God; and now he being ſenſible of his own miſery, and wretched eſtate which he lies under by nature, he doth ſtrive dayly to get out of it; and therefore he labouring to purifie himſelf as Chriſt is pure, he is the child of God.
But it doth not appeer what we ſhall be.
Doct. 3. That the future glorious eſtate of Gods children is for the preſent an hidden eſtate, Col. 3.3, 4.
It is therefore ſaid to be hidden, becauſe it is hidden with the veil of corruption, temptation and affliction, which do overſhadow our future glorious eſtate. A Chriſtian many times hath many deſertions in his ſpirit, and hath many temptations from the world, the devill, and his fleſh; many corruptions in his nature, as hypocriſie, lukewarmnſſe, &c. And many carriages which are unbeſeeming the Goſpel of Chriſt. And therefore in regard of all theſe, well may their preſent eſtate be ſaid to be an hidden eſtate.
Reaſ. 1. Is taken from the conveniency betwixt Chriſt the head, and us his members, Heb. 4.15. Though Chriſt was without ſin, yet he was counted a ſinner, yea a conjurer, a friend of Publicans and ſinners. But as for Gods ſervants, they are oft times overtaken with many groſſe ſins, and God will have them to be overſhadowed with much weakneſſe, that ſo the glory of his grace may be ſeen in their weakneſſe, and alſo that they might not be too much lifted up with the conceit of their own worth, 2 Cor. 12.7, 8. If God ſhould have purged and cleanſed us from all our ſins, then we ſhould not have believed that our hearts were ſo deſperately wicked, as indeed they are, and as we in proceſſe of time do finde them to be, in that we ſee God ever going along, and taking pains from day to day to purge and cleanſe our hearts: As God did not make the whole fabrick of the world at once, though it was not impoſſible to him, being a God Almighty, but in the ſpace of ſix dayes: So doth God deal with his children, in creating in them a clean heart; firſt he ſuffers their hearts to be as a rude and maſſie lump, full of darkneſſe, and then God ſends his holy Spirit into their hearts, and it doth illuminate them; and drive away thoſe black clouds of darkneſſe and ignorance, and then breaths in the ſweet air of his Spirit, that a man may perceive the gracious providence of God, leading him along in his Chriſtian courſe.
Reaſ. 2. Why God ſuffers his children to be veyled over with many infirmi…ies in this life▪ is, That ſo they might have a better tolleration to live in the world: If God ſhould ſuffer them to be perfectly holy in this world, the men of the world would not ſuffer them long to live amongſt them, Deut. 7.22. As our eyes cannot endure to behold the light of the Sun, ſo wicked men cannot endure to ſee the candle-light of grace in Gods children.
3. That God might keep his people in exerciſe. God will have the Canaanites to remain among the Iſraelites, that ſo they may be ſtirred up to ſtand upon their guard and watch, that ſo he may have their graces exerciſed.
Ʋſe 1. To teach the children of God not to judge of their ſpirituall eſtate by outward appearance, but to judge righteous judgement; that is, to judge as the thing in it ſelfe, and not according to what befalls a man in his outward or inward eſtate, for oft-times a wicked man meets with leſſer temptatitions then many of Gods childrens; and hence the proud Phariſee judged his eſtate to be better then the poor Publicans, Luke 18.8, to 11. But God judgeth not according to the outward appearance, but he judgeth the heart, Luke 16.15, 16. What though there be a luſt of pride or arrogancy in the beſt of Gods children? what though the Canaanites be powerfull within him and he hath much adoe to get from amongſt them, ſo that he begins to think he hath cleanſed his heart in vain? yet if he do but endeavour to keep himſelfe pure and unſpotted of the world, to purge himſelfe as Chriſt is pure, he ſhall at length come to a bleſſed and happy eſtate in the heavens.
Ʋſe 2. Of conſolation to all Gods children. What though our future condition be hid, yet it is ſafe enough, for it is laid up with Chriſt in the heavens. If in this life onelyonly we had hope in Chriſt, then we are of all men moſt miſerable. If the Chriſtian ſhould have no more joy and happineſſe then he hath in this life, then the vileſt wretch in the world ſhould be more happy then he. But our happineſſe doth not depend on our preſent condition.
Ʋſe 3. This ſhould teach the children of God to ſit down contented with their preſent eſtate▪ though a hidden condition. What though they do not enjoy ſo much pleaſures, riches, honors and eſteem, as many men of the world do? Let them be content, it will appear what they ſhall be. They ſhall be Kings and Princes, and therefore it muſt be their daily care and labour to be fitting and preparing themſelves for that Kingdome, to be purging themſelves as Chriſt is pure.
Doct. 4. That when Chriſt ſhall appear in glory, then ſhall our glorious eſtate appear with him, Col 3.4.
This our glorious eſtate, which conſiſts in our likeneſſe to Chriſt, doth appear,
1. In our bodies.
2. Our ſouls.
3. Our outward eſtates.
For in all thoſe Chriſt ſhall be glorious, ſo ſhall we ſee him as we are capable, 1 Cor. 13.12.
1. For our likeneſſe to Chriſt in our Body. The Apoſtle ſaith, the body is ſown in corruption, and is raiſed again in incorruption. Our bodies while we live in this world are ſubject to many ſickneſſes, diſeaſes, agues, &c. But in the life to come there ſhall be no noyſe of corruption heard of, our bodies ſhall then be ſo hardened and ſtrengthened, as that they ſhall be no way capable of corruption or change; yea, the bodies of wicked men ſhall be ſo hardened, that they ſhall not again return into the matter of which they were firſt made; but they ſhall be ſo hardned ad poenam, as to ſubſiſt under everlaſting torments: But the bodies of the godly ſhall be ſo ſtrengthned as to receive an eternall weight of glory.
2. Our bodies are ſown in diſhonour, but ſhall be raiſed again in glory, when we are dead; Though in our life time our bodies were made ſo come y and favourable, yet then they are changed, and ſubject to putrefaction, ſo that we cannot endure to have them long above the ground unburyed, by reaſon of the unſavaory ſmell that comes from them. And you may read that Abraham bought a field to bury his dead, Gen. chap. 23. verſe 4. But in the world to come, we ſhall be as the Sun in the Kingdome of our Father, Matth. 13.43.
3. Our bodies are here ſown in weakneſſe; but they ſhall be raiſed again in power You ſee old men here need a ſtaffe to ſuſtain their feeble joynts, but at the day of Judgement then we ſhall need no ſtaffe, for then we ſhall be ſtronger then the ſtrongeſt man that ever lived, ſtronger then any of David's Worthies, one of which ſlew 300 men. 2 Sam. 23.18.
4. Our bodies are ſown naturall bodies, but they ſhall be raiſed ſpirituall bodies Our bodies here muſt be ſuſtained with meat and drink, elſe they cannot continue; but there we ſhall ſtand in need of none: Our meat and drink there ſhall be to do the will of our Father which is in heaven. Our bodies now are ſubject to deſcend, but then they ſhall be made ſo light, that they ſhall aſcend and paſſe from place to place even in a moment, we ſhall be quick to diſpatch the buſineſſe we are ſent about. As the Sun doth now move with much celerity, ſo faſt, that it doth in the ſpace of a day, run over many millions of miles. Now if a naturall body be ſo quick, ſhall not then a ſpiritual body be endued with much more celerity?
2. As our bodies ſhall be then changed, ſo alſo ſhall our ſouls, now our ſouls are much ſtayned and polluted with ignorance, pride, wantonneſſe, impatience, and full of infirmities, but then we ſhall be perfect in ſtrength and knowledge, 1 Cor. 13.12. Now whileſt we live here, our ſouls are as it were drowned in ſin, Ezr. 9.6. But then we ſhall not have any combating or ſtriving between the fleſh and the ſpirit, but then the fleſh ſhall in all things be ſubject to the ſpirit. We are now full of imperfections, ſo as the good duties that we perform even in the beſt manner we can, are full of much humane frailty and weakneſſe. Now our naturall affections do whirle us about and carry us away from the performance of good duties oft-times, but then it ſhall be our conſtant courſe to be performing of good duties, we ſhall then know our Chriſtian friends and acquaintance, and rejoyce mutually together, John 4.36.
3. We ſhall be like Chriſt in our eſtates; And firſt, Then will our Saviour ſay, Come ye bleſſed, &c. Math. 25.34, to 41.
2. Then will our Saviour lay open before our eyes, all our good performances, Luke 12.2. Eccl. 12.14. 2 Theſſ. 1.10. Matth. 6. from 1. to 16. 1 Cor. 4.5.
3. We ſhall ſit on the throne of God, and ſhall judge the world and the Angels, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3.
4. We do now count it a great mercy, and matter of great joy to ſee the face of Chriſt in the Goſpel, in his ordinances, how much more will it be joy unſpeakable to ſee Chriſt face to face? And if the ſeeing Chriſt in the Goſpel, in his ordinances, doth in ſome manner transform us into his likeneſſe, then how ſhall we be transformed into his image, when we ſhall feer him face to face? Heb. 12.23. It ſhall then be our meat and drink to doe our Fathers will.
Reaſ. 1. From the day of Chriſts coming to judgement. It ſhall be our Marriage day, now we are but betrothed to Chriſt, we are now ſo coy that Chriſt hath much adoe to get our good will; the Miniſters of Chriſt travell in birth of us; and when they have got us to give our conſent, it is their labour to fit us and trim us againſt that day, 2 Cor. 11.2. For we are now full of whoriſh and adultrous luſts, wherefore the Apoſtle exhorts the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 2.7.1. and in them all us, to cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit.
2. Although when we have done all we can, we are but unprofitable ſervants, Luke 17.10. yet Chriſt at that day will give us a Kingdome, 2 Theſſ. 2.6, 7, to 10. 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. 2 Cor. 4.17, 18. Rom. 2.6, to 9.
Ʋſe 1. This may be a matter of great conſolation to us, when we ſhall know of our departure hence, it ſhall be for the better, and not for the worſe; then ſhall we be every way perfect, then ſhall we receive our rewards according to our deeds, Rev. 20.12.
2. This ſhould exhort us all to be fruitfull in every good word and work, 1 Cor. 15.8. as knowing our labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord.
3. This may exhort us to patience, For what though we do meet with much hard dealing here, let us yet gird up our minds with patience, for there will a day come ſhall pay for all, when Chriſt ſhall reward every man according to his works, Rev. 2.16, 17. 2 Tim. 2 11.
4, To exhort every one that would ſee a joyfull and a comfortable end, and receive a crown of glory in the world to come, to have a care that he become the childe of God here, Rom. 8.11. and not to ſet our affections on the things of this world. Jam. 4.4.5. You that are to chooſe, make your choice now, whether you will have Chriſt, and a poor, baſe, miſerable life, or cleave to the world, and be in endleſſe torments for ever hereafter. If thoſe Virgins that were brought to the King, had twelve moneths time for their purifying, ſix moneths with oyl, and ſix moneths with odours, Eſter 2.6, to 12. Then how ought we all our life to be decking and purifying our ſelves, that ſo we may be taken up into the Preſence chamber of the King of heaven?
Doct. 5. We know we ſhall know him, becauſe we ſhall ſee him, and this ſeeing of him ſhall make us like him.
Job he is confident of this, Job. 19.27. This thing was much deſired of Zachariah, Luke 19.4. John 12.21.
Reaſ. 1. Is taken from the prayer of Chriſt, John 17.24 and whatſoever he prayed for, his Father heard him, John 11.41, 42.
2. From our eſtate here, We are now but eſpouſed to Chriſt, as Princes ſend Ambaſſadors into far Countreys, to make matches for their Sons and Daughters; ſo the Lord Jeſus doth ſend his Miniſters to us, to win us to him, and to get us to be betrothed to him, and at his coming to judgement ſhall be our marriage, 1 Theſſ. 4 17.
Ʋſe 1. This may be a ground of much comfort to all the ſervants of God, in the midſt of temptations and diſtreſſes, Job 19.25.27
2. This may be an uſe of encouragement to all thoſe that think they ſhall never ſee good dayes, after they have ſet foot into the wayes of God, and fellowſhip of Chriſt. Certainly you ſhall have one good day, here is one promiſed in the Text. We ſhall ſee him when the Marriage day comes, and ſo ſee him as he is in great glory. Wherefore ſtrive we after perfection here, for if we become not the children of God here, we ſhall never ſee his face with comfort in the world to come.
Ʋſe 3. This ſhould exhort us to prepare to meet Chriſt in Perſon, If a man were come to ſpeak to a Prince, what care would he have to make himſelfe handſome? therefore what care ought Chriſtians to have that are to come into the Preſence chamber of the King of heaven?
Doct. 6. That the beholding and ſeeing of Chriſt face to face, ſhall faſhion us to be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is, 1 Cor. 13.12. Heb. 11.27.
This ſeeing of Chriſt did inveſt Moſes with ſuch glory and ſtrength, as that he feared not the fierceneſſe of the King; and ſo ſhould the full aſſurance of ſeeing Chriſt in his Kingdome, arm us againſt all diſcouragements, or whatſoever the world would lay upon us.
Q. What is it to ſee Chriſt face to face?
Anſw. The clear and perfect knowledge of God, which proceedeth only from Chriſt Jeſus, for no man hath ſeen God at any time, 1 Tim. 6.16. Joh. 4.12. Tit. 1.8. oppoſed to the ſight of Chriſt in the world, 2 Cor. 3.13, to 17.
1 Under the old Teſtament they ſaw Chriſt through a veyl of ceremonies, 2 Cor. 3.13.
2. In the New Teſtament we ſee Chriſt as in a glaſſe of Gods Word, Sacraments, Chriſtian communion; afterwards we ſhall not onelyonly ſee him without ceremonies, but without ordinances alſo, we ſhall then ſee Chriſt more immediately.
3. Then ſhall we ſee Chriſts Manhood, and all the glory he had before the world, 1 Cor. 13.12. Joh. 17.24.
Q. How ſhall this make us like him?
Anſw. We ſhall ſee him in the glaſſe of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 3, 18. and ſo grow from one meaſure of grace to another. If the Goſpel will do this, much more the preſence of Chriſts body, and view of Chriſt.
2 Look as Moſes, when he ſaw Gods back parts, his face did ſhine, Exod. 34.29. So our face then much more.
3. As Peter, James and John, when Chriſt was transfigured, Matth. 17.2, 3, 4, 5. Prov. 27.17. A man may learn ſomething from the countenance of a Chriſtian. When Chriſt did but look at Peter, it was enough to work him to repentance.
Ʋſe 1. As ever you would have comfort on your death bed, labour to be like Chriſt, by ſeeing him in the glaſſe of the Goſpel. If you be the worſe by ſeeing him in the ordinances, what will you then be by ſeeing him face to face? Labour to feel a powerfull change by the Ordinances.
2. This may be an uſe of comfort to ſuch as find benefit by the ordinances. If thou findeſt good by the ordinances, then how much better ſhalt thou be, by ſeeing Chriſt face to face? That which makes a Chriſtian fear death, judgement, diſtreſſes, is becauſe he doth not ſee Chriſt.
Doct. 7. Gods children doe know thus much, that when Chriſt ſhall appear, they ſhall be like him, and that they ſhall be made like him by ſeeing him as he is, Pſal. 17.15.
Q. How know ye this?
Anſw. Partly by the teſtimony of the Spirit of God, that reveals the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.9.
2. From the ſenſible experience of the efficacy of Gods ordinances in this life. If they be the better for ſeeing Chriſt in his ordinances, then how much more when ye ſee him face to face?
Ʋſe 1. This refutes the Doctrine of Doubting. We ſhall not onelyonly perſevere, but we know it. This aſſures us of perſeveration, that we ſhall never fall away. They know they ſhall perſevere: Now knowledge is of a certain concluſion.
Q. How may we come to ſuch a knowledge?
Anſw. Labour to be like Chriſt in his Word, Sacraments, Chriſtian communion. If we finde that every ordinance doth make us like Chriſt, then the ſight of Chriſt much more.
Ʋſe 2 This ſhould encourage us to bleſſe God, who hath redeemed us from darkneſſe of error. If they that write againſt this Doctrine, had ſeen Chriſt in his ordinances, they would have beleeved it.
Ʋſe 3. Thoſe which have ſeen God in his ordinances, let them take up ſuch meditations as theſe: That though they be obſcured with the veil of affliction, temptation, perſecution, yet they ſhall hereafter be made like Chriſt. Zacheus by ſeeing Chriſt was made the Son of Abraham, and was ready to part with all. Moſes ſaw Chriſt in a buſh, and feared not Pharoah.